Training, information, and encouragement for new amateur radio operators.

Coax (ial Cable)

Many hams have a VHF/UHF radio and antenna for local communication, especially if they are involved in EmComm. Ideally you have an exterior antenna up high for best performance with your radio. The downside to that is that vertically-oriented VHF/UHF monopole antennas are a juicy target for lightning strikes. Basically, they look like a lightning rod.

Lightning wants to go to ground and if the best path is through your antenna and feed line, your radio is likely to be destroyed. And if you’re right near the radio when it happens, you might be injured, or a fire might be started by the lightning strike. Bottom line, bad things can happen with an outdoor antenna during a thunderstorm.

Lightning damage in W0ZUX shack

Lightning protection is important to have. There are numerous sources of arresters available, mostly for coaxial cable (feed line). Some simple and cheap, others complex and costly. How much is your radio and even your house worth to you?

Here are some commonly available coaxial cable lightning arresters:

Even better than these stand-alone arresters with separate ground wires is to group them on a plate that is well-grounded.

Special ground rods with arrester mounting plates are available for this:

Common lightning arresters on your antenna feed line help only with minor stray lightning bolts. A direct strike on your antenna cannot be stopped by a simple arrester; there is too much energy involved to dissipate. The radio will be destroyed in such a case, along with possible damage and injury.

So what can you do to protect yourself and your radio from lightning? In addition to using arresters the best way is to Continue reading →